Teen girl hit by car on Everett sidewalk dies

EVERETT, Wash. — A teenager crushed by an out-of-control car died at Harborview Medical Center. Perla Hernandez was declared brain-dead but was kept on life support while her organs were donated. A fast-growing memorial of flowers and balloons is giving her friends a place to remember the bright 14-year-old. "A lot of people liked her because she was so nice and kind," said America Reyes.

Broken glass and spray paint shows that is also the spot where she was pinned under a flipped car. Hernandez, a freshman at Cascade High School in Everett, was on her daily walk home Thursday when she rounded the corner at 112th and 7th Avenue. "I just talked to her yesterday," said classmate Alex Reyes.

Police say a 16-year-old boy driving north apparently failed to yield to oncoming traffic as he turned. A 48-year-old woman heading west lost control trying to avoid a collision. She drove on the sidewalk, struck a building and Hernandez, then flipped upside down.

The female driver was treated and released from the hospital. Friends learned on Facebook this morning that Hernandez died. "That's when I got really upset and had to calm down and then I decided to come down here," said neighbor Melanie Rock.

Police say the teenage driver is not under arrest. Detectives were back on the scene Friday calculating speed and measurements at the moment of impact.

Friends impacted by Hernandez's death are struggling to see this as an accident. "There's no way that that kid should not be punished," said Rock.

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